The Osceola times., 1887-09-10
WOMAN'S DEPARTMENT.
TOM AND CONSCIENCE.
Tom Has q russle with His Conscience.
hut, as Usual, the Latter Wins the Ar

but, as Usual, the Latter wins the Ar
Eument.
Lots of women know Tom, and the
story Of his little confab with Con-
science will be sufficient Introduction
10 the rest.
He was man of average intelli-
sence, rs also of average stupidity
having often convinced himself that
God made woman with nothing in her
hand but the dish-cloth and the duster,
while under mans arm, at his making,
He tucked the ballot-box, the jug and
the tobacco-box, as the source of manly
government for two sexes.
Well, one day he sat in his tip-back
chair reading his favorite daily, when
n report of a woman-suifrage conyen-
ton ran under his eye and set him to
making homemade editorials.
Snow, there's wife," quoth Tom to
Tom; she's uncommon smart at all
she ever tried (wouldn't thrash the
fellow that said she wasn'D; but,
pshaw! what's she know bout tariff
on wool, civil service. bogus butter,
an plooro-newmoney. eh?'
Then he chuckled to himself in the
looking-glass opposite, and was about
to resume his paper, when Conscience
glanced up into his face and whispered,
with smile:
Tom. dear, all people are dull
touching things they never rubbed
against. You run your saw-mill well;
but you couldn't run cotton-mill.
nor bake batch of bread like Lucy's:
and when she has a hand in the loaf OF
State Government, she'll study to
mould that, too. light and sweet, and
do it to turn in the oven Of public
service"
MAY be so, Conscience; but, bless
me. she studies up thing nough now
wish she didn't--no need o missions
an temperance, night-schools and
tinke-in' for the poor. I'd jest like to
have one field left she didn't take in
terost 'nough in to watch me. "
"Ah, Tom! now you're honest; for
the voting women certainly will know
more of mems political conduct. and
excuse less. So. too, Lucy, you say,
now thinks and labors for others. also;
but still she's good housekceper,
isn't shc?'
" Yes, ma'am! best in town, cause
she don't vote. II she votes. the
doughnuts' all turn into books an
thoughts on reforming every body, an
she'll come to respect herself for all
she's worth; then other folks will, too.
Why, she might get to be head o the
family. l tell you, woman should be
kept 'umble like, as in parts o Franco
she has to get married in mournin'
an that showed model wife-tha,
old London sign-board rs had painted
on it female figger without a head
an marked The Good Woman.
Yes. Tom" said Conscience
sternly, "in those days men were
brutes."
"Say, Conscience. keep still. can
you! Woman was made to fry fish fol
man; be his sewin' machine, too; and
when she's out o apple dumplin's, She
outen her sphere. She's good 'nough
for me as she be-"
tom, man, you need her the very
best she can be-"
well, well, we'll! Somehow l fec
It in my bones as suffrage is a-comin
TO her. I'm fraid too. Lucy won'tvot,
my way every time. cause she pious
like lots on 'em. They'll vote pious
too. ! reckon; an then. oh. dear me
poor Tom'll lose his tansy bitters. No
ma'am. Miss Conscience; | guess In
for keopin' suffrage in the masculn,
gender"
just once more, and thoughtfully il
earnest, good Conscience beamed NJ
into his face and said:
Beloved Tom. I'm your best friend
kindly and carefully hear me As yol
say, woman is pious; her nature look,
upward as far as natures God. and tn,
more it lays hand upon all that is tru,
and helpful, the more womanly wifi
and inspiring mother she'll be
Woman never can become bad wifi,
and mother through leave TO make tn,
State guardian of the treasures dearcs
to wife and mother. Wouldn't you fee
disgraced, Tom. if disfranchiscd? An,
don't your bright wife and daughter
feel it us keenly9 You know you ncve
grew SO fast rs the morning yo,
awoke twenty-one. But Lucy'll vot,
away your bitters, you say. So sh,
will; but think how the loss OF your bit
ters will sweetcn the life of YOU both
She'll not, though, vote away your ap
pie dumplings; she'll only vote tn,
peaceful flavor of her home into all tn,
country. and then all the country viii
respect her home. Indeed, Tom, i
you'll vote rs tell you, Lucy II alwayl
vote with you; and If she be half as re
ligious rs you say, will not her vot,
cleanse the filthy pool of politicsp' o.
do you fear Lucy'll be soiled? Men an,
women mingle safely on the street, il
the shcp, the cars, the post-oilice, tn,
public audience; may they not keel
harmless while voting. Surely, Tom
if the men who vote be not fit for Luc,
to walk near for a moment at the polls,
they're not fit 10 make laws for her
and if your voting-placc be too filth
for yom wife to step into, perhaps
dear man, it's proof of your unfitnes,
nothers-proof that the place need